HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Althen, T. G. Articles by Ono, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Althen, T. G. Articles by Ono, K.

Effects of Prednisolone or Epinephrine Treatment on Development of Induced Pale, Soft and Exudative Pork

U. S. Department of Agriculture^{,2 ,3,}, Beltsville, MD 20705

Abstract

Pale, soft and exudative pork (PSE) is associated with a rapid rate of postmortem glycogenolysis of muscle, accumulation of lactic acid and a concomitant decline of pH. This study was designed to examine the effects of chronic Prednisolone (CP), acute Prednisolone (AP) or chronic epinephrine (CE) treatment on epinephrine-induced PSE development. All pigs were fed 25% sucrose for 10 days prior to slaughter, and each pig received a 5 mg intravenous injection of epinephrine 5 min prior to slaughter. All three treated groups of swine had higher (P<.05) 3-min postmortem muscle glycogen values (CP-65.8, AP-59.4, and CE-67.2 µMoles glucosyl units/g) than the controls (43.7 µMoles glucosyl units/gram). Phosphorylase activities did not differ between treated and control swine, but tended to be lower in the CE swine. Muscle lactate values at 3 min did not differ between treated and control swine. Lactate values exceeded published values, however, and indicated that antemortem stress (epinephrine injection) influenced postmortem glycolytic rate as early as 3 min after exsanguination. Visual inspection and percentage reflectance at 24 hr postmortem indicated that 6 of 6 CP, 4 of 5 AP, 2 of 5 CE and 10 of 10 controls developed PSE musculature. These data indicate that antemortem treatment with Prednisolone (either chronic or acute) does not prevent the formation of epinephrine-induced PSE muscle. The CE treatment reduced the incidence of PSE, possibly due to an auto feedback mechanism that caused a reduction in muscle epinephrine receptors resulting from the chronically elevated epinephrine.

¹ Department of Animal Science, Mississippi State University, Starkville 39762; formerly with the Meat Science Research Laboratory, FR, USDA

² Nonruminant Nutrition Laboratory.

³ Meat Science Research Laboratory.